Before the Well Runs Dry: Taking Care of Yourself as the Parent of a LD/ADD Child.

Gehret, Jeanne

Addressed to parents of children with learning disabilities (LD) or attention deficit disorder, this paper explores the dangers of falling into codependent behaviors and stresses the importance of parents taking care of themselves. The codependent parent is described as always putting the child first and as trying to control everything about the child and those who interact with him/her. The paper considers such aspects of this relationship as the uncontrollable nature of children with LD, coping with stress, and dealing with chronic grief. It specifically encourages parents to: (1) find healthy ways to express feelings, (2) plan time away from the child, (3) lay guilt to rest, (4) take breaks to refresh yourself, (5) develop friends and intellectual pursuits unrelated to the exceptional child, (6) conserve energy for the most important things, (7) take care of your body, (8) take frequent deep breaths, (9) practice acceptance, and (10) say often, "I am not my child." (DB)